Cows have four stomachs, and their burps and other "emissions" are not good for the atmosphere.

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Updated: 8:29 AM CDT May 25, 2017

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WEBVTT JIM: YOU TRY DOING A SERIOUSSTORY ABOUT COW FARTS AND COWBURPS, BUT IT IS A REAL PROBLEM.SCIENTISTS SAY THE COW EMISSIONSPRODUCING METHANE GAS IT'SHURTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEYSAY IT IS ALSO CONTRIBUTING TOCLIMATE CHANGE.>IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH BUTTHAT WAS A COW BURP LIVESTOCKPARITUCLARLY COWS PRODUCE ANEXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OFGREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS25-TIMES GREATER THAN CARBONDIOXIDE.>> WE ARE TRYING TO COMBAT THATNEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ANIMALAGRICULTURE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.JIM: THIS BECAUSE A COW HAS 4STOMACHS.HERE ON THE FARM RESEARCHERS ATWOLFE'S NECK IN FREEPORT ARESTUYDING WAYS TO REDUCE COWEMISSIONS TO HELP SAVE THEPLANET.MUCH OF IT REVOLVES AROUNDALTERING THE COW'S DIET.>> THE SEAWEED WOULD BE A SMALLPORTION OF THE ANIMAL'S DIET.JIM: THAT'S RIGHT THEY'RETALKING ABOUT FEEDING COWSSEAWEED.SCIENTIST ACROSS THE WORLD AREALREADY ON-IT, TESTING SEAWEEDSOF ALL KINDS.>> WITH OTHER SPECIES OFSEAWEED.THEY USE MORE OF THE RED SEALEADS.ALTOGETHER SEEMS TO BE ASTRATEGY TO MITIGATE METHANE.JIM: SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRYSEAWEED INTRODUCED INTO A COW'SDIET AND CUT METHANE BY AS MUCHAS 99%.OUT IN THE PASTURE WE VISIT THEENIVORNMENTAL MONITORING STATIONWHERE THERE'S ALL KINDS OFEQUIPMENT AIR QUALITY MONITORS,WIND MONITORS, EVEN CAMERAS.>> IT IS ALL BEING DIGITALLYANALYZE.JIM: ALONGSIDE ANDRE ASASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT UNH, THEYARE WORKING TO COME UP WITH THEDEBT THAT CAN HELP CRAFT THEPERFECT COW DIET TO REDUCE THOSEMETHANE GAS.RICK IS ALSO IN ON THE PROJECT.>> WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVESUSTAINABILITY OF THE LIVESTOCKINDUSTRY.IF SEAWEED IS A COMPONENT THATDOES THAT, THAT IS GREAT.JIM: 90% OF METHANE COMES FROM ACOLUMN WERE RATHER THAN FROM THEOTHER END.>> PART OF IT IS CHANGING THEDIET AND USING SUPPLEMENTS THATMAY BE PART OF OUR EXISTINGENVIRONMENT.JIM: WHAT BETTER PLACE TO STUDYBEEN HERE.>> WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVELOCAL RESOURCES, WHETHER THAT ISSEAWEED OR A GRASS CROP ACONSUME, OR OTHER FEED THEY AREABLE TO GROW IN THE NORTHEAST.JIM: THEY ARE ALSO STUDYING HOWMUCH OR HOW LITTLE SEAWEED NEEDSTO BE PRODUCED TO PRODUCE THEDESIRED EFFECT.